Chapter 8 第八章

第八章

上善若水。水善利萬物而不爭，居眾人之所惡，故幾于道。居善地，心善淵 ，與善仁，言善信，政善治，事善能，動善時。夫唯不爭，故無尤。中。

Chapter 8
The supreme good is like water,
which nourishes all things without trying to.
It is content with the low places that people disdain.
Thus it is like the Tao.

In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In words, truth.
In governing, don't try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In actions, timeliness.

When you are content to be simply yourself
and don't compare or compete,
everybody will respect you.

Retrived From Here

The highest excellence is like (that of) water. The excellence
of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying,
without striving (to the contrary), the low place which all men
dislike. Hence (its way) is near to (that of) the Tao.
The excellence of a residence is in (the suitability of) the place;
that of the mind is in abysmal stillness; that of associations is in
their being with the virtuous; that of government is in its securing
good order; that of (the conduct of) affairs is in its ability; and
that of (the initiation of) any movement is in its timeliness.
And when (one with the highest excellence) does not wrangle (about
his low position), no one finds fault with him.

Retrived From Here